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Marbella, July 2005 |
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An old sailing boat to rescue the common dolphin
With the sponsorship of fuertehoteles.com |
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FOUR RESEARCHERS AND SIX VOLUNTEERS WILL SAIL OUT THIS MONTH OF JUNE FROM ALMERIA WITH THE AIM OF STUDING THE REACTION OF COMMON DOLPHINS TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOUNDS. THE TARGET IS TO FIND OUT WHICH SOUNDS MAKE CETACEANS SCARED OF AND TO REPRODUCE THEM LATER ON FROM FISHING NETS TO PREVENT DOLPHINS FROM A SUDDEN DEATH. THE MISSION, ABOARD A PECULIAR SAILING BOAT, WITLL BE OUT IN THE SEA DURING THE WHOLE SUMMER. |
Common dolphin survives almost well on Andalusian coasts, especially in the Alboran Sea. However fishing nets are the responsible for the majority of the deaths occurred on our beaches, since 85% of the running aground listed during last year were by common dolphins, most of them already dead. The fitting of sound transmitters within fishing nets could diminish this threat and give a new hope to the researches working out in the sea to prevent this species from dying out.
The project is being run by Ricardo Sagarminaga and Ana María Cañadas, two researches, who after several years of work aboard the "Sirius" -a Greenpeace vessel- decided to continue their task in an independent way. This is how the project ALNITAK (Marine Environment Research and Education Centre) was born in 1990, a non profit organization carrying out cetacean research campaigns in cooperation with different universities, NGOs and authorities. Their weapons are hard working volunteers and an old sailing boat -the Toftevaag- which combines both Norwegian pine wood and the latest technologies. |
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ABOARD THE TOFTEVAAG
The Toftevaag, and old fishing boat from 1910, gave up catching herring in the North Atlantic ocean at the beginning of the nineties to become a cetacean research and conservation sailing boat. During five months this group of researches aboard this sailing boat will try to go deeply into the common dolphin behaviour, apart from studying other marine species.
The selling boat is equipped with a computer which records the route and provides weather forecasts. Before approaching the dolphins the researches introduce data on the maritime traffic, fishing activities or the area contamination. Once the data has been filed and calculated, the engines are stopped and they proceed with listening-in by means of an hydrophone.
If dolphins are reluctant to approaching, the biologists take basic data and keep on sailing. If on the contrary dolphins show interest and curiosity the experts then check the different types of sounds, especially the ones who really scare dolphins. Besides they carry out a photo-identification session and shoot the behaviour of the cetaceans. Photo-identification helps making out the possible scars or marks on the dolphins' fins to match each dolphin, as their finger prints, and this way follow dolphins up. The work carried out aboard the Toftevaag is both hard and difficult. The results of this summer's campaign are still to be seen. However the mix of adventure and research therein is something good to make this society care about cetaceans and improve the living conditions of our dolphins. |
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A CHANCE TO LEARN
The Toftevaag is not only a scientific platform but also a chance unique for those volunteers willing to take part in research programmes in an active way. In this case the stay is 15 days only. Two weeks in which the co-operators' group receive a basic scientific training, a course on environmental education, apart from assisting the scientists with their daily tasks.
Before getting on board, volunteers should be aware of the conditions aboard. We are not taking about a leisure yacht but about a working boat, that is why an official language is used, i.e. English. Volunteers are to live together with other people in a space without privacy, they have cleaning, helm and watch duties under the Mediterranean sun, stay for days without having a shower, as there are no showers aboard, either they wash themselves with sea water or wait till port is reached. As far as meals are concerned, these have to be paid by volunteers who will be on duty to cook as well.
The trip with the Toftevaag means a unique experience. Those interested in living it may ring 625 527712 for more information.
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